Estimation of Hazardous Household Waste Streams in Ukraine

Abstract

Although hazardous components present a small share of household waste, they are the most problematic fraction requiring special management methods due to their toxicity, and pose a significant danger to the environment and human. The most common hazardous household waste includes batteries, fluorescent lamps, detergents, paints, waste electrical and electronic equipment. In Ukraine, data on this waste generation are incomplete. Companies and organizations submit information on the generation of all waste categories to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Statistical data on the content of hazardous components in household waste are not available, their volume is estimated at 0.5…3 thousand tons/year. The data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine were analyzed and the amount of waste generated in the commercial sector and classified as hazardous household waste was determined. There is a steady decrease in the amount of hazardous household waste generation — almost twice in last 4 years, with electrical appliances as most decreasing (6 times). At the same time, generation of some waste has increased: pesticides; edible oils and fats; contaminated packaging and filter materials and protective clothing; medical equipment and instruments; medical infectious waste. The largest share among hazardous components have used equipment and devices, batteries and accumulators, waste fertilizers, medical waste and edible oils and fats, fluorescent lamps and other mercury-containing waste. The share of hazardous household waste in Ukraine is estimated at 0.03…0.1 % or 0.24 kg/year per 1 person, or 0.13…0.26 % (up to 0.74 kg/year per 1 person) taking into account the commercial sector. This is an order of magnitude less than in other countries. This may indicate underestimated data due to the inefficiency of the waste accounting system and significantly higher real volume of hazardous household waste. The dynamics of hazardous household waste disposal is positive (an increase of 5 times in recent years), but it is achieved almost exclusively through the disposal of lead batteries, pharmaceuticals, medical infectious waste, medical devices and instruments.